Created in 2015 as a Governor’s Initiative, the Excelsior Conservation Corps (ECC) is a ten-month residential AmeriCorps program that partners with the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Environmental Facilities Corporation, and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. The ECC works on environmental stewardship projects on NYS DEC and NYS OPRHP public lands that result in the protection of natural resources, thus helping to sustain these resources over the long term for the benefit of the New York State community. The corps is made up of 50 individuals between the ages of 18-25 or 18-28 if they are veterans. There are 5 crews with 4 different disciplines: Mixed Stewardship (2 crews), Infrastructure and Sustainability (1 crew), Survey and Assessment (1 crew), and Education and Outreach (1 crew). Members will receive extensive training and certifications that will help prepare them to safely and successfully complete assigned projects. Members of Excelsior Corps are eligible to receive the following training or certifications: Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA) CPR Certification Leave No Trace (LNT) Trainer Comprehensive Trail Construction & Maintenance Skills OSHA 10 Construction Certification Outdoor Living Skills